Moore Creek Park in northern Napa Valley is expanding after the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District acquired additional acreage expanding the park to over 2,100 acres, the district said.
According to the district, which manages county and state parks in Napa County, Moore Creek Park comprises oak woodlands, Douglas fir and madrone forests, chaparral and wildflower-laden grasslands. It also provides access to Lake Hennessey, a reservoir.
The newly acquired land, which totals 523 acres, includes trails that connect the park’s 25 mile trail network to the 35-mile trail network in the Pacific Union College Demonstration and Experimental Forest in Angwin, the district said Wednesday.
The acquisition also allows for the Bay Area Ridge Trail to be extended by 4 miles. The Bay Area Ridge Trail is a growing network of trails that connect through the entire Bay Area, from Napa to Santa Clara counties.
The district worked with the Land Trust of Napa County to acquire the land from the Phinney family, who already had donated an easement to the district, allowing a small portion of their land to be used for mountain biking via the Dan’s Wild Ride Trail.
The California State Coastal Conservancy and Metropolitan Transportation Commission granted the district $1.7 million to acquire the land.
The Phinney property was the final piece of land needed to fully protect the Moore Creek watershed and expand the wildlife corridor in the area, the district said.
The expanded parkland will also create a wildlife corridor from Lake Hennessey to the PUC forest. According to the district, Moore Creek Park is home to bobcats, gray foxes, coyotes, black bears, mountain lions and deer.
“We’re thrilled to complete this project and increase the size of Moore Creek Park, protecting even more habitat in an important ecological area,” said Chris Cahill, general manager of the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District, “and we’re looking forward to helping even more residents and visitors get outside to enjoy and experience this amazing part of our county.”
More information on Moore Creek Park can be found at napaoutdoors.org.
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